title: [The influence of pharmacoeconomic laws on pharmacies between 2007-2010 in Hungary].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2006 a law for the economical use of medications was introduced into the Hungarian legislation. This law--among others--facilitated the foundation of new pharmacies. The aim of our study is to analyse the effect of that legislation on the number of pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from the pharmaceutical database of the Hungarian Health Insurance Fund Administration (OEP), the only health care financing agency in Hungary. We analysed the 5 years period between 2006-2010. The number of pharmacies were analysed according to the number of population of different settlements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of community pharmacies increased from 2030 (2006) to 2576 (2010) by 546 pieces (26.9 %). The number of pharmacies showed a different pattern according to the size of population of settlements. In villages with a population of 0-449, 500-999 and 1000-1999, the number of pharmacies decreased (3 pieces/3.6%; 18 pieces/20.0%; 23 pieces/10.6% respectively). In cities with a population between 2000-4999 we found a slight increase in the number of pharmacies (11 pieces/3.0%). In bigger towns there was a clear increase in the number of pharmacies: 5000-9999 population 53 pieces/29.0%; 10000-49999 194 pieces/37.1%; 50000-99999 population 129 pieces/33.0% and over the population of 100000: 158 pieces/42.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the introduction of the new law for the economical use of medications in 2006, the number of pharmacies significantly changed in Hungary. However, this change in the number of pharmacies was inequal according to the size of the population: in villages with a population lower than 2000 people there was a decrease, while in cities with bigger population the number of pharmacies significantly increased.
authors.affiliation: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Egészségtudományi Kar Egészségbiztosítási Intézet, Pécs Mária utca 5-7.--7621. imre.boncz@etk.pte.hu
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boncz
authors.forename: Verebes Eva
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Donkáné
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oberfrank
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D010595:Pharmacists